United Way announces program outcomes for 2008-09 school year

press release from United Way:

KidSmart, the education and health initiative of Inland Empire United Way, is making a real difference in the lives of local kids, and announces the program outcomes for the 2008-09 school year!

Working in partnership with local schools, case management organizations, businesses, and community groups, the Kids Pack program provides backpacks of nutritious food to homeless and very low-income children during the weekends, when school meals are not available. In the 2008-09 school year, 37,988 Kids Pack backpacks of food were delivered to hungry kids. 1,443 children from 65 schools and 9 districts participated in the program.

With students in the Kids Pack program, teachers reported:

• 40% of participants were more attentive in class
• 38% of participants improved their attitude towards school
• 41% of participants participated more in class
• 42% of participants improved their grades
• Overall, 57% of Kids Pack participants improved their overall performance in school

The School Tools program provides disadvantaged children with the supplies they need to succeed. Through our Teacher Resource Center (TRC), teachers from eligible schools have the unique opportunity to "shop" for supplies for their students and classroom twice a year--completely free of charge!

In the 2008-09 school year, School Tools TRC served 27 schools in 7 different districts. 647 teachers visited the TRC, distributing more than $490,000 worth of new school supplies and directly benefitting 19,410 low-income students in our community.

School Tools program outcomes include the following:

• Students with adequate supplies to complete in-class assignments increased from 25% to 95%
• Students with adequate supplies to complete assignments at home increased from 16% to 88%
• 91% of teachers reported they were able to expand or improve their instruction as a result of participating in School Tools
• 87% of teachers reported that School Tools helped them do a better job teaching